The Brooks/Ravitch Dialogue Expands
A week ago New York Times columnist David Brooks launched a broadside against Diane Ravitch. This was rather reminiscent of the recent attack by Jonathan Alter. These pieces generally lack substance, but seem designed to reassure those inside the policymaking circle that their assumptions are safe, in spite of the relentless waves of evidence that have emerged, and the sharp critique offered by the nation's leading education historian.
This week, the New York Times ran a short rebuttal from Dr. Ravitch, and has invited readers to contribute to he dialogue. Letters should be no more than 150 words in length, and sent to letters@nytimes.com.
The focus on Dr. Ravitch is suspicious. Her views are devastating, but she is hardly alone. She is speaking for many of us, and her expertise is backed up by the reality so many of us who work in schools are familiar with. So let's add our voices to this dialogue. Let the New York Times know where we stand.
Here is my letter:
The trouble that armchair education experts like David Brooks have is that the evidence keeps lining up against